Review: Stillen Catback Exhaust

spearfish25 · 10-07-2009, 06:55 PM

Of course my mind is starting to ponder HFCs to go with the catback...just wonder what it would sound like

. I'm 100% happy with the current sound though.

m4a1mustang · 10-07-2009, 07:06 PM

IMO the Stillen + HFCs is way too raspy.

spearfish25 · 10-07-2009, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

IMO the Stillen + HFCs is way too raspy.

I can't remember...did you have that setup? My feeling currently is that the Stillen CBE alone is plenty loud (as loud as I want at WOT) and sounds nice. Adding HFCs will only make it louder and probably go beyond my ideal threshold. From what I've read here, HFCs can make a dull exhaust sound more sporty but an already nice sounding exhaust loses its qualities with HFCs added.

I however would love to find someone with a Stillen CBE and some HFCs to compare my car to directly in person. Someone drive up to Chicago!

spearfish25 · 10-07-2009, 09:51 PM

One other nice thing to add about the Stillen CBE...ground clearance. It actually IMPROVES ground clearance over the stock setup. Those bends in the stock pipes just before the muffler are gone and everything tucks up higher now.

Red370 · 10-07-2009, 10:52 PM

I picked my Berk HFC's up from another member recently for $300 used, If you look enough, you'll find someone willing to let theirs go for a decent price, hell, test it out, if you dont like the way it sounds, post it in the classified section and I GUARANTEE someone will buy them. I must say though, the HFC's with stock exhaust sounds absolutely amazing. I bet it would only be that much better with your CBE.

6MT · 10-08-2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

IMO the Stillen + HFCs is way too raspy.

I have to disagree. The Stillen HFC's with their CBE does not sound "raspy" IMO. The Fast Intentions CBE with the Berk HFC's has got to be the raspiest sound I have heard on a 370. I've heard both live, and I just love the Stillen set-up. I think the Stillen has a rumble and the FI is raspy. To the point of sounding like a riced-up Civic or WRX.

But, to each his own...

EDIT: btw, I won't be drawn into any arguements on this "subjective" thread. Like I said above "to each their own".

semtex · 10-08-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

Of course my mind is starting to ponder HFCs to go with the catback...just wonder what it would sound like

. I'm 100% happy with the current sound though.

Why do you need to wonder what this would sound like when I've provided vid clips with this combo, both inside and out?

m4a1mustang · 10-08-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

I have to disagree. The Stillen HFC's with their CBE does not sound "raspy" IMO. The Fast Intentions CBE with the Berk HFC's has got to be the raspiest sound I have heard on a 370. I've heard both live, and I just love the Stillen set-up. I think the Stillen has a rumble and the FI is raspy. To the point of sounding like a riced-up Civic or WRX.

But, to each his own...

EDIT: btw, I won't be drawn into any arguements on this "subjective" thread. Like I said above "to each their own".

I should note that my opinion is based on hearing a 370 in person with Stillen headers, berk HFCs, and stillen CBE. I have video of said Z, and in my opinion it is raspy.

semtex · 10-08-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m4a1mustang

I should note that my opinion is based on hearing a 370 in person with Stillen headers, berk HFCs, and stillen CBE. I have video of said Z, and in my opinion it is raspy.

Maybe it'd help if you guys define/describe what you mean by "rasp." You know, just to make sure you're talking about the same thing. Stuff like this is subjective enough without having to deal with the possibility that people are using the same word to describe different things, ya know? To me, rasp is a 'tinny', metallic sound. I almost picture BBs rattling around in a tin can. That type of sound. Is that what you guys mean as well?

spearfish25 · 10-08-2009, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Why do you need to wonder what this would sound like when I've provided vid clips with this combo, both inside and out?

It's no slight to you. Unfortunatley I've found the sound in videos to be more difficult to judge and not always comparable to a first person experience.

FricFrac · 10-08-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Maybe it'd help if you guys define/describe what you mean by "rasp." You know, just to make sure you're talking about the same thing. Stuff like this is subjective enough without having to deal with the possibility that people are using the same word to describe different things, ya know? To me, rasp is a 'tinny', metallic sound. I almost picture BBs rattling around in a tin can. That type of sound. Is that what you guys mean as well?

Tinny BB sound = rasp. Some of the early fitments had rubbing issues that were fixable. I have the Stillen CAI, CBE and HFC. I had a bit of rasp when it was cold when I first had them installed but once the exhaust had been heat cycled several times the rasp is gone. Every exhaust system I've ever had need at least 1000 miles or more to "seatle" in/blow out glass, etc. I think personally with just the CBE would be too mellow for me and that was my main concern with the Stillen - performance gain is excellent but its fairly quiet. With the HFC it sounds fantastic and I get endless compliments on the exhaust. Not only that but people constantly are asking me were you at so-and-so at such-and-such a time. I'll say yes and they'll tell me "oh I thought that was you - I heard your car driving by". I even get friends texting me telling me they heard me drive by "damn that thing sounds sweet", etc. This is a well loved exhaust note! I get compliments from the R8, Porsche, Lambo, Ferrari, etc, etc ,etc drivers all the time. Next to the looks of the car that's the most commented item on the car.

I'm happy with it 8)

6MT · 10-08-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

To me, rasp is a 'tinny', metallic sound. I almost picture BBs rattling around in a tin can. That type of sound. Is that what you guys mean as well?

yes

m4a1mustang · 10-08-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

yes

Yes for me as well.

semtex · 10-08-2009, 03:48 PM

Okay, then. At least we're all on the same page with what we mean by rasp. lol.

semtex · 10-08-2009, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

It's no slight to you. Unfortunatley I've found the sound in videos to be more difficult to judge and not always comparable to a first person experience.

Oh I didn't take it as a slight. Just wanted to make sure you hadn't forgotten that they existed, in case they could be of help. And you're right, there's no real substitute for hearing the real thing up close and personal.

10-07-2009, 06:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Of course my mind is starting to ponder HFCs to go with the catback...just wonder what it would sound like . I'm 100% happy with the current sound though. Last edited by spearfish25; 10-07-2009 at 09:51 PM.

10-07-2009, 07:06 PM	#17 (permalink)
m4a1mustang A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Northern VA Posts: 55,385 Drives: on two wheels Rep Power: 6962	IMO the Stillen + HFCs is way too raspy. __________________ - Steve Zs & Coffee - Saturdays at 10AM in Fairfax, VA and Columbia, MD (Click the banner!) LIKE us on Facebook!

10-07-2009, 10:52 PM	#20 (permalink)
Red370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kaiserslautern, Germany Posts: 4,391 Drives: your mom to church Rep Power: 296	I picked my Berk HFC's up from another member recently for $300 used, If you look enough, you'll find someone willing to let theirs go for a decent price, hell, test it out, if you dont like the way it sounds, post it in the classified section and I GUARANTEE someone will buy them. I must say though, the HFC's with stock exhaust sounds absolutely amazing. I bet it would only be that much better with your CBE. __________________ 2011 Mustang 5.0 \| 3.55's \| Lethal Performance off road H-Pipe \| Magnaflow Muffler Delete \| JLT CAI/Bama tuned 417whp/ 404 ft/lbs

10-08-2009, 03:48 PM	#29 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Okay, then. At least we're all on the same page with what we mean by rasp. lol. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

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10-07-2009, 09:51 PM	#19 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	One other nice thing to add about the Stillen CBE...ground clearance. It actually IMPROVES ground clearance over the stock setup. Those bends in the stock pipes just before the muffler are gone and everything tucks up higher now.